The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-07-16

allow your manager to re- engage the little
chorus singer whom he discharged to-
night. She needs all her earnings for her
sick mother and sister.
Il shall do nothing of the kind. That
would be very silly of me, indeed. She Is
too good looking, sings too well, and at
tracts too much attention. Why, night be-
fore last she got four baskets of flowers,
and had but one. | should not have any
at all tonight if my manager Lad not paid
for them and sent them To me, and the ex-
pense came out of my own pocket.
Howard 1hondike smiled at this explain
alton, and said:
= am sorry; yet your motive seems some
what selfish to me.
Perhaps so, and il is in one sense. | can
not afford to have opposition so near. |
aspire 10 fame as singer | will acknowl-
edge to Won what | would not TO any one
else. The little chorus girl of whom you
speak has naturally finer and a sweeter
voice for singing than | have myself; and
do not doubt that, with lit > training, she
could fill my role even b der than | can.
Such a person is, therefor .. dangerous to
have in the same company VIII me- If she
Is needy would rather pay he more TO stay
away than she can earn in b, position as
chorus leader"
Il think she would be I, = !. dependent TO
accept 1t, no matter how much she might
need it.
Then she is too proud for her own good.
l did intend TO do something for her; but If
that Is the kind of person she is she shall
receive no assistance from me. She who
steals flom me my purse steals trash; but
she who tilches from me my fame"
"Oh, don't, Ettie; pray do be serious. No
more Shakespeare, please"
m hnua NV
with my theatrical ambitions. and, there
fore, do not understand anything in con-
necuon with them, not even myself Al
though / tested, 1t Is n serious Jest about
that girl. | will not have her acting in the
same company with me as long as | can
help it.
Thoroughly unmindful of others, /"
thought Howard, but he said nothing.
He wondered how he ever came to be
wound up IN the fate of a woman of
such strange characteristics as Etie pos
sessed He must have been blind2 Yet il
was only of late she developed them Could
he ever be happy with her-an actress? Ii
was doubtful. Their nature and tastes were
far too dissimilar. Time, however would
prove. Time improved a great many things,
and perhaps 1t would improve her moro to
his liking, bring her nearer to the standard
of his ideal
He drew a deep sigh and looked at his
watch. 1t was late almost midnight
He drew on his coat and goyes; then,
hesitating a minute he said a simple
Good night" He would have SAID more,
but her indifferent air was repellent to him.
She merely turned half round toward him
and held out her hand, saying
- on Will excuse NV not rising, / know.
You must call again while am here, and |
.v-,l l. l.
are angry with me. but you must not be. A
love for the stage was born i me: so | am
going to give it a fair trial, and if l fail
to make II success. or do not like it as
well rs | expect to, there is no harm done,
for no one knows who | am or where |
came from. Better try and forget ne, q ear,
as You 60 home. | think 1t would be the
very best thing you could do. 1t is raining,
but you viii find my carriage Is still ut the
door. | told the driver this afternoon that
he was to wait for you, ana you viii prob
ably find him asleep on his box, as usual.
Good might dear And She held her pink.
velvety cheek toward aim for parting
salute, with as innocent an air as though
she had not been probing him 10 his hearts
core by her words AID actions for the past
three quarters of an hour. T.,
4 conflict of Ideas and opinions con-
fused the usually clear brain Of Howard
Ihorndike OF his way home. and long after
be was snugly ensconced in the recesses of
his fayovite easy-chair, blowing off the
eferyescence of the evenings excitement in
wreaths Of smoke.
He felt ike a man who had committed a
foolish action and yet was at loss to tell
why it was folish, or to understand how he
could have done tferent under the circum-
stances.
Howard Thorndike was possessed of a
kind heart, and spent considerable por-
ton of his income in relieving some of the
passing wants of deserving poor people.
Many an old lady owed her winter stock
of coal to his benevoence, and many we're
the blessings showered on their unknown
beuefactor by the beneficiarie8 He did
no. distribute his charity indscrimin-
ately: he first sent his valet to inquire into
the circumstances of the person or persons